Barry Levinson to Direct CITY OF ANGELS Film Adaptation

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 9:33am

"Nearly one year after forming Unique Features with a three-year first-look deal at Warner Bros., Bob Shaye and longtime partner Michael Lynne have assembled a formidable slate of films.

Projects in the works include their first animated film (with an original score by Paul McCartney); two Broadway-bound musical adaptations, of New Line films 'Elf' and 'Secondhand Lions'; and a Barry Levinson-directed screen version of the musical 'City of Angels.'

The Unique partners have reteamed with 'Wag the Dog' director Barry Levinson for the 'City of Angels' feature. Larry Gelbart will turn his original book into a script, and composer Marc Shaiman is attached to serve as music director, augmenting the original music by the late Cy Coleman. David Zippel, who wrote the lyrics for the original stage production, is back with the pic. Unique is producing with PicturePlay Films.

'Barry brought it to us, and the story of a writer of classic film noir detective stories, with the same actor playing both the writer and detective ... is as great an idea for the screen as it was the for the stage," Shaye said...'"

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005042.html?categoryid=10&cs=1

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 9:41am

Hmmm... wonder if they will keep the b/w vs. color concept .... they will if they have any smarts!

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 9:50am

Oh this just made my day! City of Angels is my 6th fave musical of all time! The score is stunning. Heres hoping Hugh Jackman for Stone!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 9:53am

'Barry brought it to us, and the story of a writer of classic film noir detective stories, with the same actor playing both the writer and detective ... is as great an idea for the screen as it was the for the stage," Shaye said...'

So, are they changing the concept for the screen or was that simply a mistake? I'm not sure I would enjoy seeing the same actor as Stone and Stine. I never got the feeling Stine wanted to be Stone. I just think it would diminish the impact of You're Nothing Without Me, which would be far too literal and just become a cheesy self-duet a la Jekyll and Hyde. What made that number so fun was watching the only two actors who don't appear in both worlds suddenly collide and meet in the middle. The two of them grounded the show and provided a dual axis around which the rest of the cast and characters revolved. Remove one of those actors and double-casting the other would weaken both characters, bringing them to the level of everyone else. I'm not a fan of the idea if that is their intention.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 9:55am

Very excited for this to become a movie. Interesting that it's Barry Levinson. What was the last good movie he did? Must've been ten years ago, at least. But he did give us Rain Man, Diner and Bugsy. We'll see how this pans out. Anyone else want Scarlett Johansson for Mallory?

[wonkit]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 9:56am

Mister Matt - I agree 100%.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 9:57am

Also agree Mister Matt. Hopefully, they'll nix that idea. I'd actually love to see Clive Owen as Stone, and maybe Jackman as Stine.

[wonkit]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 10:06am

Does Clive Owen sing?

[wickedfan]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 10:11am

I don't know. I think physically and acting wise, he's perfect for the part. If you saw him in Sin City, you definitely got a Stone vibe from him.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 10:21am

I'm not sure how I feel about Shaiman "augmenting" the score (I hope it just means incidental music, etc), but I do love this show and always thought it would make a great movie.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 10:45am

I hate to be a cynic, but expect Hollywood to mess up another really terrific musical. The show needs two different actors for a reason. And yes, it must be done color/b&w. And no, we don't want Kristin Chenoweth playing Oolie/Donna.

How about Tom Hanks as the writer and Guy Pearce as the detective?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 10:54am

I'd love to see Catherine Zeta-Jones as Donna/Oolie and Kristen Bell as Mallory/Avril.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 12:22pm

Hmmmm. Something tells me this one isn't going to be made. I seem to remember some years ago Levinson was supposed to do a film of VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE with Anthony LaPaglia...never happened.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 12:28pm

I REALLY hope you're right about that, Phyllis, because as much s I like Shaiman's work I think he's all wrong for adding to Coleman's score.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 12:38pm

This is a brilliant score, they better not mess with it.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 12:52pm

Let's not hold our breaths until any of these projects actually happen, folks.

[sanda]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 1:04pm

I am more interested in a revival.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 1:44pm

Don't say anything about a certain artist because criticizing certain artist will get you banned from a certain site.

I've said enough already.

[TheBoyDownstairs]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 2:13pm

The score is perfect as is, it certainly doesnt need to be augmented.

This is exciting and scary at the same time. I've always thought that City of Angels would translate to screen better than almost any other musical out there, but I'm always scared that hollywood will ruin it.

If you dont do the different actors for Stine/Stone and dont do the black and white vs color then the movie will be terrible

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 2:21pm

YIKES!

Don't anybody let them know Oliver Platt is available!!!!

Love this show too much to even speculate on how much damage could be done to it in the wrong hands....

OY VEY!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 2:55pm

The score is perfect as is, it certainly doesnt need to be augmented.

Film score adaptations of stage musicals are almost always augmented, often for the sake of snagging an Oscar nomination. No to mention that underscoring will need to be composed and arranged, which is also augmentation to the original score. I'm not worried about Coleman's score. I doubt it will receive the same treatment as On the Town or Anything Goes. I also see no reason to believe they wouldn't keep the BW/Color concept.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 3:36pm

Mister Matt --- totally agree with what you said about the same actor for Stone and Stein. It's cheesy and gimmicky, cheapens the characters, and lessens their relationship, which is key to the story. Even if one is in B&W with dark hair and the other is in color with lighter hair. Not the same actor, please. It will look like Samantha's naughty cousin on Bewitched. Or a very creepy episode of The Patty Duke Show.

I love the idea of Shaiman adapting this score. So few composers out there understand how film musicals work. They need streamlining/truncating and pace, or they sink like a lead balloon. I'm sure he will honor Cy Coleman's work. Just as he has honored other classic composers' songs in a (pretty impressive) catalog of films. And considering his own achievements, I'm surprised that he took the gig. Probably because (just a guess) that he loves the score and the show. It's kinda like John Williams "adapting" someone else's work at this stage of his career. He did that early on before he came into his own. But Shaiman has built a career on variety. He composes original scores and song scores, and he adapts them. So it's not out of character, and I think they're lucky to get him. I'd hate for some novice who "saw a musical once" years ago to drive this bus.

As far as casting, I'm sure they will load it with stars. And why not? That will be the big drawing card at the box office. "Come see the big stars sing in a film noir-ish comedy!"

The first names that come to mind are Sean Penn (Stein) and George Clooney (Stone). Or Pitt and Damon. Or Ewan McGreggor, Clive Owen. Hugh Jackman as Stein, perhaps, but his singing voice is to nasal and grating for "Stone the crooner." They need box office clout, not just Oscar clout. Don't throw Adrian Brody in there just because he has a gold statue. He's not going to get people in to see something like this.

Zeta-Jones would be terrific, but she'd probably want to play both Stone and Stein or have all the female roles combined into one character so her part ended up bigger. She really needs to get off that clueless, career-oriented, self-absorbed mindset if she ever wants to be cast in anything A-list again.

I'm sure they'll round up the usual suspects, pun intended, for screen tests (Kidman, Zellweger, Hathaway, Hudson, Blanchett, and hopefully a few ladies of color, please, even if they're usual suspects, the Dreamgirls (Beyonce, Hudson, Rose) and Latifah. Maybe even Jennifer Lopez, and a few other Latin or Asian ladies. And a few "new kids" ala Fergie in Nine.

And I'm sure it they will honor and play up on the film look of the '40s, not only B&W, but hopefully scratches, dust, grain, bloom, etc. Really get the right film look.

But the fun (hopefully) for movie audiences here would be watching "Singing With the Stars" at their local cinema.

Updated On: 6/17/09 at 03:36 PM

[Pgenre]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 3:47pm

Marc Shaiman will do the glorious score glorious justice, and that is really all that matters. He's the master of movie scoring and adaptation (and original songs, as far as I'm concerned) and HAIRSPRAY has the best sound mix of ANY film I've seen so that bodes very well for this.

Levinson is a good choice for director, Gelbart can write jokes like few others.

IF this happens it has all the ingredients of a big, fat hit.

If I could choose any Coleman show to be filmed it would be THE LIFE, though. Or ON THE 20th CENTURY.

P
Updated On: 6/17/09 at 03:47 PM

[jennamajig]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 4:08pm

If it is done right, this is a movie I could get behind 100%. I always thought it had everything to make a wonderful film. But, I agree - two different actors for Stine and Stone. Even if Stone is an extension of Stein (I could argue for/against that) he is definitely different. He's not Stine - he's Stine's creation, an image perhaps of what he wishes he had, but NOT him. Their duet would definitely look like a crappy acting stunt if played by the same actor.

I love the idea of Catherine Zeta-Jones in this...but I wonder if the role would be large enough for her (I think each female role has much to play with, but screen time, of course varies).

He may not be not old enough and not big enough of a name at all, but I kinda like the idea of Neil Patrick Harris as Stine for some reason...perhaps I can hope for that in a revival (which I would also adore).

Can George Clooney carry a tune? He would probably make a kick-ass Stone. Ewan McGreggor, also suggested, would work well.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 4:26pm

I wish Clooney would DIRECT it AND star in it.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK is one of the best DIRECTED movies in recent years, with Robert Downey Jr. and Patricia Clarkson on the level of Mickey and Judy as far as screen chemistry goes.

Could Patty Clarkson do "You Can Always Count On Me"? Since she can do ANYTHING, I'm sure singing is something she can handle.

Downey Jr. is my first choice for Stone. He has already starred in a musical (THE SINGING DETECTIVE) and has a gorgeous voice (he sings the last song over the credits), plus he is freshly Oscar-nominated (TROPIC THUNDER) and hot again in hollywood (TT and IRON MAN).

And I'd love to see Alec Baldwin do "All You Have To Do Is Wait" in Jack Donaghey mode.

P
Updated On: 6/17/09 at 04:26 PM